Bulldogs thrash Eagles inside empty stadium as Blues, Hawks post wins

Western Bulldogs star Marcus Bontempelli has put West Coast to the sword for the second time this year to lead his side to a 55-point win at an empty Perth Stadium.

In Sunday’s other matches, Carlton defeated Adelaide by 10 points at Docklands, while Hawthorn beat GWS by 18 points at the MCG.

In Perth, the Western Australian government banned spectators from attending the match between the Eagles and Bulldogs after the state recorded a positive COVID-19 case.

Bontempelli tallied 29 disposals, 10 clearances, and three goals in the Bulldogs’ 13.20 (98) to 6.7 (43) win over the Eagles.

The Eagles trailed by 21 points at three-quarter time, but the Bulldogs slammed home the first six goals of the final term — including three to Aaron Naughton — to turn it into a demolition.

Bontempelli suffered a late scare when he grabbed at his right shoulder after crashing to the turf in a spoiling attempt.

The 25-year-old, who starred with 30 disposals and three goals in the round two-win over West Coast, was able to play on despite the discomfort.

The result improved the Bulldogs’ win-loss record to 11-3, while West Coast dropped to 8-6 and lost 5.3 per cent.

West Coast’s underdone midfield was destroyed despite the utter dominance of Nic Naitanui in the ruck.

Naitanui, up against Tim English, tallied 20 disposals, 39 hitouts and eight clearances.

But the returning Luke Shuey (20 disposals) and Tim Kelly (14 disposals), and the likes of Andrew Gaff, Jack Redden, and Dom Sheed could not capitalise at ground level.

In contrast, the Bulldogs had Bontempelli, Jack Macrae (32 disposals, one goal), Bailey Smith (31 disposals, two goals), and Lachie Hunter (27 disposals) starring.

The Eagles’ Liam Ryan could be suspended for a high bump that caught Jason Johannisen in the jaw.

Although Johannisen was able to play on after being medically cleared, the fact Ryan chose to bump could result in a one-match ban, much like the incident that saw Jordan De Goey cop the same penalty.

The Bulldogs won the inside 50-metre count 17-8 in the opening term and had eight scoring shots to two, but their lead at quarter time was just 13 points due to inaccuracy.

Their frustrating run in front of goal continued early in the second quarter, with the Bulldogs having 2.12 to their name before Bontempelli nailed one from 30 metres out when the conditions started to dry out.

A strong mark to Naughton in the dying minutes of the term set up a goal to Toby McLean, giving the visitors a 20-point lead at the major break.

Bulldogs defender Ryan Gardner was subbed out early in the third quarter when he injured his right shoulder in a heavy collision with Josh Kennedy.

There was more carnage to come, with English, Eagles midfielder Andrew Gaff, and Bulldogs midfielder Tom Liberatore all suffering cuts on their head.

Smith booted two goals for the term, but two goals to Eagles forward Oscar Allen within the space of a minute kept West Coast in the match.

But the contest was put to bed early in the final quarter as Naughton put on an aerial show and duly converted his good work.

Bontempelli put the icing on the cake with a miracle snapped goal from the pocket.

The final-quarter onslaught was so bad that Eagles coach Adam Simpson put his face mask over his eyes at one point.

Blues post timely win over Crows

Carlton has given under-fire coach David Teague some relief ahead of the looming review of the club’s football department by producing a much-needed win over Adelaide.

The Blues got off to a slow start before flicking a mental switch and taking the match on during a dominant second term to set the platform for a 12.11 (83) to 10.13 (73) victory.

There were some nervous moments in the final quarter when the Crows closed the gap to 10 points, but Carlton hung on in a tense finish to the entertaining contest.

Adelaide’s Lachlan Sholl missed a simple shot at goal that would have cut the margin to six points with one minute left.

It was a crucial result for the Blues, with the widely-publicised external review led by Geoff Walsh, Matthew Pavlich and Graham Lowe set to begin on Monday.

A delayed flight just hours before the match did not seem to have a huge effect on the Crows as they registered the first eight scoring shots.

Six of them were behinds before Darcy Fogarty’s two goals set off early alarm bells for the Blues.

But Adam Saad sliced through the middle to give the home side a lift with a superb running goal and Harry McKay cut the margin to six points by quarter-time.

McKay (two goals) helped drag the Blues back into it by throwing his weight around and Sam Walsh (38 disposals) racked up touches at will on a wing.

High-profile recruits Zac Williams and Adam Saad were influential and Eddie Betts kicked three goals, including one where he stepped around Jake Kelly and slotted a checkside kick near the boundary line.

The veteran pocket rocket almost pulled down a mark-of-the-year contender when he took a ride on Patrick Cripps’s shoulders at the top of the goal square.

It came as the Blues piled on eight goals to three in the second term to burst 34 points clear.

Cripps celebrated his mid-week inking of a contract extension and Blues fans showed their appreciation when they chanted the co-captain’s name after his team-lifting goal before half-time.

It was a contentious one, with Cripps running well beyond the allowed 15 metres without taking a bounce.

Tension spilled over in the third term when Fogarty charged into Jacob Weitering’s back, sparking a huge melee.

The win came at a cost for Carlton, who lost former captain Marc Murphy to a leg injury in his 296th match.

Adelaide wingman Paul Seedsman kicked two goals from 24 disposals and Taylor Walker could have been a match-winner, kicking 3.4 in an entertaining battle with Weitering.

The Crows dominated the clearances 38-22, with Rory Laird and Ben Keays busy, but lost the inside-50 count (51-54).

Hawks edge Giants at MCG

GWS has squandered a chance to enter the top eight following its loss to Hawthorn.

The Giants, who remain in 10th spot and next face ladder-leading Melbourne, looked set to bank a percentage-boosting win after booting the opening four goals against the Hawks.

But the Hawks seized momentum in a fashion as striking as Tim O’Brien’s second-quarter screamer then held their nerve during a tense finish to triumph 13.12 (90) to 11.6 (72).

Dylan Moore kicked four goals, including two clutch efforts in a 79-second burst that sealed the win, while 2018 Brownlow medallist Tom Mitchell grabbed a match-high 40 disposals.

Callan Ward trimmed Hawthorn’s lead to just five points late in the final quarter of the topsy-turvy tussle, only for a composed Moore to slot his set shot that came with a tick over three minutes remaining.

Moore snapped another goal moments later, putting the result beyond any doubt.

The contest was on the Giants’ terms in the early stages of their first ‘home’ match since escaping Sydney’s growing COVID-19 cluster.

But their slick ball movement and superb pressure, having been hallmarks of the youth-fuelled resurgence that followed a 0-3 start to the year, dried up after Bobby Hill’s second goal late in the opening quarter.

GWS went some 47 minutes without kicking a goal as Hawthorn built a 22-point lead.

Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson clattered a water bottle when Daniel Lloyd ended the Giants’ drought in the third term, knowing his charges had gone close to squashing the opposition’s resolve.

Stand-in skipper Toby Greene, having been unusually quiet throughout the opening half, booted two quick goals as he and fellow stars Lachie Whitfield and Josh Kelly ignited a GWS comeback.

Hawthorn’s buffer was just three points at the end of the third quarter.

Moore and Jai Newcombe’s goals gifted Clarkson’s side some breathing room.

Lloyd and Ward gave their side a chance of pinching the four premiership points before the Hawks steadied yet again.

The result extended Hawthorn’s promising post-bye form, while the highlight was undoubtedly O’Brien’s mark-of-the-year contender.

Ladder

AAP